What have I missed?

The cards were written, addressed and posted a week ago. The turkey’s ordered. The cake is made. The presents are bought, and most of them are wrapped. And my daughter came home last week. I’m almost ready for Christmas.

So why do I have the feeling I’ve missed out something essential?

Probably because I get the same feeling every year at this time. A doctor once told me he sees more women suffering from stress symptoms in December than the rest of the year put together. I think the main cause of the stress isn’t having too much to fit into too little time; it’s the sense that something will fall off the edge, and it will be the one thing that really needed to be done.

I’m feeling pretty much the same at work now I’ve started putting the word out about our charity anthology. What opportunity will I miss? Which TV producer or magazine editor would be willing to give it a roaring blaze of publicity – but won’t, because I’ll miss their deadline, or it won’t occur to me to get the information to them?

Getting this part of the job right always matters – but this time it matters more. It’s not just us and one author who lose out if I miss something – it’s a charity which helps a lot of people get through an experience which knocks them for six. There’s a whole lot more than usual riding on my promotion efforts.

Twenty-six authors have all given time, effort and energy to make it a success. The last piece of the jigsaw fell into place last week, when Mark Billingham, may he live forever in great joy and comfort, delivered the winner of the competition to find an unknown author whose story will sit alongside Val McDermid’s and Reginald Hill’s and a whole lot of other household names. (Actually it will sit between Zoë Sharp, author of the sparky Charlie Fox series, who is deservedly as popular in the US as over here, and Roz Southey, one of Crème de la Crime’s own most popular authors on both sides of the pond. The winner’s name is Caroline Shiach, and the stories are democratically arranged in alphabetical order according to author’s surname.)

That’s twenty-six people I don’t want to let down.

Fortunately I have help. Those twenty-six authors are all keen to do whatever they can to make it a huge success. In particular, the Crème de la Crime authors who contributed stories have all pledged their support with a whole series of events – and they all have plenty of chutzpah and determination to make their mark. Which is just as well, because that’s what we use instead of a big marketing budget.

The organisers of CrimeFest, which is fast becoming the UK’s answer to BoucherCon, have given us an evening slot at next year’s event. If you’re coming to CrimeFest, you’re invited. Friday May 15^th, somewhere in the Bristol Royal Marriott; just follow the sound of people having a good time.

So, fingers firmly crossed, it’s all in hand.

Now all I have to worry about is Christmas.

Religious holiday, midwinter festival, or just a few days’ relaxation – whatever it is for you, have good one, everybody.